Another Crude Oil Train Goes off the Rails in Canada

A rash of derailments in Canada involving trains carrying crude oil continued this week with a 31-car derailment in northwestern Ontario Tuesday.

Canadian National Railway reports that 26 of those contained crude although only two are believed to be leaking cargo. No drinking water was affected by the spill, a city government website for Emo, Ontario, reports.

The latest derailment comes less than two weeks after 32 tank cars out of a 104-tank car train left the tracks near Guernsey, Sawkatchewan, spilling 7,500 barrels of crude. Last December, only 10 kilometers further down the tracks a similar derailment also spilled 7,500 barrels of crude.

Because the damaged cars met more stringent standards put in place after the fatal 2013 derailment and fire disaster in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, the Feb. 6 derailment triggered a 30-day speed restriction for trains hauling dangerous goods to go no faster than 20 mph in town and, in rural areas, 25 mph.

“I have asked my officials to examine all issues related to these accidents to determine if additional safety measures will be required,” Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau said.

After Tuesday’s derailment, Ontario provincial police issued an evacuation order covering an 800-meter radius of the wreck. However, everyone affected returned home by the next day.

No injuries were reported in the emergency.